RFI-_JPC-5_ISRI.docx

Subject: Utilizing Implementation Science to Optimize Selective Evidence-Based PTSD Treatment, Tele-Behavioral Health Interventions and/or Service-Wide Adoption and Use of the DoD’s Behavioral Health Data Portal (BHDP)

THIS IS NOT A REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS (RFP) OR A REQUEST FOR QUOTATIONS (RFQ); IT IS STRICTLY A REQUEST FOR INFORMATION (RFI). NEITHER UNSOLICITED PROPOSALS NOR ANY OTHER KINDS OF OFFERS WILL BE CONSIDERED IN RESPONSE TO THIS RFI. NO CONTRACT WILL BE AWARDED PURSUANT TO THIS ANNOUNCEMENT.

1.0 DISCLAIMER: This RFI is issued solely for information and planning purposes and does not constitute a solicitation. Neither unsolicited proposals nor any other kind of offers will be considered in response to this RFI. Responses to this notice are not offers and will not be accepted by the Government to form a binding contract. Responders are solely responsible for all expenses associated with responding to this RFI. All information received in response to this RFI that is marked Proprietary will be handled accordingly. Responses to the RFI will not be returned. At this time, questions concerning the composition and requirements for a future RFP will not be entertained.

2.0 SUBJECT: This RFI seeks information from researchers with expertise in dissemination and implementation research. Dissemination and implementation (D&I) research studies typically involve both interdisciplinary cooperation and transdisciplinary collaboration, utilizing theories, empirical findings, and methods from a variety of fields not traditionally associated with health research. Relevant fields include but are not limited to: information science, clinical decision-making, organizational and management theory, economics, individual and systems-level behavioral change, public health, business and public administration, statistics, anthropology, learning theory, engineering, and marketing. D&I research should include significant and ongoing collaboration with stakeholders from multiple military and civilian mental health and/or clinical practice settings as well as consumers of these services and their families/social networks. This market research may assist with the further development and/or refinement of requirements. Information will be reviewed pursuant to consideration for the development of future Requests for Proposal (RFP) or Program Announcements (PA) for potential research identified in this RFI.

3.0 BACKGROUND: This Request for Information (RFI) is for market research, information and planning purposes only and shall not be construed as a solicitation or as an obligation on the part of The Joint Program Committee 5-Military Operational Medicine Research Program (MOMRP) (JPC-5) or the US Army Medical Research Acquisition Activity (USAMRAA).

The JPC-5 MOMRP’s mission is to develop effective medical countermeasures against operational stressors and to prevent physical and psychological injuries during training and operations in order to maximize the health, performance, readiness, and fitness of Service members (SMs). The JPC-5/MOMRP Psychological Health and Resilience Program area supports both individual and multiagency research efforts aimed at promoting psychological health of Service members (SMs) and military families through improving prevention, detection, and treatment of psychological health issues.

Research documenting deployment and reintegration stressors and mental health issues among SMs and their families (Hoge et al., 2004; Thomas et al., 2010) has made it possible to estimate the need for services and preventive programs designed to reduce the impact of mental health issues on SMs. A myriad of barriers constrain mental health treatment accessibility, engagement, and utilization (Nieuwsma et al., 2014; Bearslee et al., 2011; McNally, 2012).

In recent years, healthcare policy has incorporated evidence-based practice (EBP) as the central tenet of healthcare delivery (Institute of Medicine, 2013). EBP has been defined as the purposeful integration of the best available research evidence, practitioner expertise, and consumer values in making decisions about the care of patients and communities (Davidson et al., 2003; Spring, 2007). Similar to EBP, evidence-informed practice calls for practitioners and policymakers to integrate the current, best available scientific evidence in prevention and intervention efforts, while recognizing that clinical decision-making is complex and, therefore, requires flexibility in application of this evidence (Shlonsky, Noonan, Littell, and Montgomery, 2011). EBP has encountered barriers common to most diffusion efforts (Rogers, 2003, Addis et al., 1999, Rapp et al., 2010, Perkins et al., 2016), resulting in a slow pace of dissemination and uptake of empirically supported medical and psychological interventions. The process of implementation presents a series of challenges to provider adoption, fidelity to the specific manualized intervention, and the long-term use and sustainability of the identified approach or intervention (Fixen et al., 2005).

Implementation research is the scientific study of methods to promote the integration of research findings and evidence-based interventions into healthcare practice and policy. (https://www.fic.nih.gov/researchtopics/pages/implementationscience.aspx). Meta-analysis regarding the typical timeline from bench to full implementation in health research translation has revealed that it takes an average of about 17 years for research evidence to reach clinical practice. (Balas and Boren 2000, Grant et al 2003, and Wratschko 2009). The effective dissemination and implementation of evidence-based health interventions within military settings are important cornerstones to expanding the availability of quality health and mental health services. Yet it has proven to be a challenging task for both research and the mental health community stakeholders.

4.0 RESPOSE INSTRUCTIONS:

Respondents should address the following in their submission:

· Name and address of company.

· Any small business designation as certified by the Small Business Administration and applicable certification.

· A thorough description of capability to conduct research that utilizes implementation science to optimize selective evidence-based PTSD treatments, tele-behavioral health interventions and/or service-wide adoption, utilization, and optimization of the DoD’s Behavioral Health Data Portal.

· Demonstrated experience in establishing collaborative research efforts with military treatment facilities or with military populations.

· Demonstrated experience in establishing protocols and procedures consistent with implementation science and good clinical practice conduct of multi-center clinical trials.

· Demonstrated experience in continuous monitoring and process improvement techniques.

All responses shall be submitted in MS Word or searchable PDF format. Responses are limited to 10 (ten) single-sided pages. Pages should be numbered consecutively throughout the response document and not by sections. Response content shall be no smaller than Times New Roman font 12 pitch. Exhibits, graphics, charts, captions, etc., shall be no smaller than 10 pitch.

5.0 CONTACT INFORMATION: All questions related to this RFI, and all information regarding Capabilities Statements or any other proprietary information relative to this RFI, shall be submitted via email to Ms. Jennifer E. Tait, at jennifer.e.tait.civ@mail.mil no later than COB on 28 November 2016.